Lubricated yarn guide for yarn spooling machine

ABSTRACT

To provide for lubrication of a yarn guide follower element, adapted to ride in a spiral track formed on a cylindrical roller, a duct is bored through the follower, the duct communicating with lubricating openings at the bottom of the guide groove. The top of the duct is formed as an enlarged funnel, across which a stripper bar is mounted which reciprocates with the yarn guide follower, in the traverse movement of the yarn guide. A lubricant supply trough is located just above the stripper, formed with openings of such size that drops of lubricant form, therein. The drops are stripped off by the stripper element, to drop into the funnel shaped opening, be sucked into the duct and lubricate the bottom of the spiral groove.

1 1 June 24, 1975 l l LUBRICATED YARN GUIDE FOR YARN SPOOLING MACHINE [75] Inventor: Ernst Dietiker, Horgen, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Maschinenfahrik Schweiter AG,

Horgen, Switzerland 22 Filed: Jan. 9, 1974 [211 Appl. No.: 431,929

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 1, 1973 Switzerland 1438/73 [52] US. Cl. 242/43; 74/57; 184/65; 242/1583, 242/1585 [51] Int. Cl B65h 54/30 [58] Field of Search 242/43, 43.1, 158, 158.1,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,373,949 3/1968 Swallow 242/43 3,401,894 9/1968 Campbell, Jr 242/43 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,163,721 9/1969 United Kingdom 242/43 Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or FirmFlynn & Frishauf, RC.

1 1 ABSTRACT To provide for lubrication of a yarn guide follower e1- ement, adapted to ride in a spiral track formed on a cylindrical roller, a duct is bored through the follower, the duct communicating with lubricating openings at the bottom of the guide groove. The top of the duct is formed as an enlarged funnel, across which a stripper bar is mounted which reciprocates with the yarn guide follower, in the traverse movement of the yarn guide. A lubricant supply trough is located just above the stripper, formed with openings of such size that drops of lubricant form, therein. The drops are stripped off by the stripper element, to drop into the funnel shaped opening, be sucked into the duct and lubricate the bottom of the spiral groove.

7 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure LUBRICATED YARN GUIDE FOR YARN SPOOLING MACHINE Cross reference to related patents: US. Pat. No. 3,764,090, Oct. 9, i973 U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,745, Oct. 30, 1973.

The present invention relates to a spooling machine, and more particularly to the lubrication of the traverse mechanism for the yarn guide, to provide for controlled spooling of the yarn on a yarn spool.

Traverse mechanisms frequently utilize a cylindrical element which has a spiral groove cut therein, in which a follower is slidably located, the follower carrying out a reciprocating to-and-fro movement, thereby providing for traverse of the yarn across a yarn spool. The follower, typically, is constrained to move in the traverse path by engagement with guide tracks; the follower is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the traverse path.

Thread guide or thread traverse arrangements of this type require lubrication of the contact surfaces between the spiral groove in the cylindrical element and the follower. Severe requirements are placed on the lubrication, since the lubrication must be uniform, the accuracy of traverse being dependent on smooth operation of the follower in the groove. Further, the lubrica tion must not be excessive so as to cause lubricant to drip, or spray, and thus contaminate the yarn being wound. The higher requirement on lubricant, typically oil, must be supplied, due to ever increasing operating speeds of the wind-up spindles, and hence traverse speed of the traverse speed of the traverse mechanism. Danger of spray, and centrifugal slinging of the oil is increased with increasing speed, particularly with increasing speed of the cylindrical spiral groove element. Accurate control of the quantity of the lubricant is therefore important, and further, to introduce the lubricant directly at the point of highest frictional engagement and as closely to the actual contacting surfaces between the follower and the groove, as possible; and further, as closely to the central axis of the cylindrical element. The expense in providing such a lubrication arrangement should, further, be low.

An example of such a cylindrical element, a follower and a guide groove is described in detail in the crossreferenced patents, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated. The lubrication system is, however, equally applicable to other types of traverse mechanisms in which a rotating, spirally grooved rollers carries along a follower element which will carry out reciprocating motion, to provide a uniform traverse movement for a yarn guide.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:

Briefly, the follower, engaged in the spiral groove, is formed with a duct leading from the outer side of the follower towards the root of the groove. A stripping device, for example a bar, is mounted above the outer duct opening which, preferably, is enlarged to provide a catching funnel. An oil drip supply, for example a trough with holes formed therein, is located just above the stripper which, upon transverse movement of the follower, during traverse of the yarn guide, strips drops off the oil supply. Typically, the trough is formed with openings of such size that drops will form thereon. The size of the opening can, therefore, accurately determine the size of the drops being formed. Lubricant, it-

self, is supplied to the trough from a suitable lubricant supply.

The entire arrangement is simple and permits application of accurately controlled quantity of lubricant directly to the contacting surfaces between the follower and the groove in the spirally grooved roller. Preferably, the follower is formed with transverse duct extensions to distribute the lubricant over the width of the groove. Due to the relatively high speed between the follower and the base of the groove, suction will arise in the duct which will rapidly suck oil introduced into the outer end of the duct downwardly into the bottom of the groove, where it is most needed.

The funnel-shaped outer opening, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, permits slight misalignment of the drop supply, thus decreasing the cost of the lubricant supply since accurate adjustment is not necessary. The lower lubricant distribution is preferably an open cross groove formed at the lower side of the follower. This improves flow of lubricant through the lubricant duct in the follower and further distributes the lubricant uniformly over the entire width of the region which requires the lubricant most. Suitable dimensioning of the trough, the number of openings therein, and their size and, if necessary, the pressure with which lubricant is supplied, in drop form, for example through a closed tube formed with drip openings therein, permits accurate control of the quantity of the lubricant.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein the single FIGURE is a fragmentary, perspective view of the lubrication system in accordance with the present invention, applied to a follower operating in a spiral groove in a cylindrical, spirally grooved element, indicated in chain-dotted lines only. For further illustration and description of the traverse system, reference may be had to the cross-referenced patents.

A pair of guide tracks 1, la, secured to the frame of a spooling machine, not shown, provides a guide path for a thread guide 2, to reciprocate back and forth between the guide tracks I, la. Thread guide 2 includes a slider 3, having guide grooves 4 which are engaged by tracks I, la. A bore is formed in the center of the slider 3. A pin 5 of a follower 6 is rotatably located in the bore. Follower 6 transmits rotary movement of the cylindrical, spirally grooved roller 7', of which the groove 7 is indicated, to transfer reciprocating traverse movement to the thread guide 2.

The sliding surfaces between the follower 6 and groove 7 are lubricated by a lubricant, typically oil, conducted to the gliding surfaces by a duct 8 which penetrates from the outer side of the follower 6, including its outer bearing bolt, or pin 5, and which terminates at the bottom edge of the follower 6. The duct 8 is enlarged at its outer end to form a funnel. The inner end of the duct 8 communicates with an open cross cut 9 formed at the lower side of the follower 6. The funnel-shaped enlarged outer end of the duct 8 is surrounded by a collar 10, formed as part of the slider 3, the funnel-shaped enlargement continuing, at least in part, at the inner surface of the collar 10. A stripping bar ll extends transversely across the collar 10, secured thereto on edge, so that the upper of the stripping bar may form a stripping edge for a drop of oil.

A trough 14, formed with openings 13 is located immediately above the traverse mechanism, parallel to the guide tracks 1, la. Trough ll is supplied continu ously with oil by some oil supply means, for example a pump, a slinger disk, a level supply, or a recirculating lubricant arrangement catching, and re-distributing splashed oil from other portions of the machine.

Operation: A drop of oil 12, upon being engaged by the stripper bar 11. will drop down through the funnel and will be introduced into the duct 8. Suction is applied in the duct 8 due to the high relative speed between the follower 6 and groove 7. The oil, being sucked downwardly, then distributes through the cross grooves 9 to form a film of lubricant between follower 6 and groove 7.

The quantity of oil being supplied to the region to be lubricated between the follower 6 and the groove 7 will depend on the tightness of fit between the follower 6 and the groove 7, the number of the drip openings 13 in the lubricant supply duct 14, shown as a trough in the FIGURE, the size of these drip openings 13, and such additional parameters, as speed flow of lubricant, viscosity, and other parameters. so that the quantity of lubricant being supplied can be accurately controlled.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the inventive concept. The stripping bar may be differently formed, and arranged with respect to the supply duct 14. The duct 8 through the follower 6 may have additional connecting ducts connected thereto to terminate, for example, on the lateral sides of the follower 6. The pin or attachment bolt for the follower may, of course, extend to the end of the device and carry the collar 10, or merely terminate in the funnel shaped opening, carrying the stripper element directly.

I claim:

1. In yarn spooling traverse apparatus having yarn guide track means (I, la);

a yarn guide track element (2, 3) movable along the guide means;

means (7') formed with a spiral track groove (7);

and a rotatable follower (6) having one end engaged in the groove (7) and the other end connected to the guide element to move the guide element, upon rotation of the means (7') formed with the groove (7) in a reciprocating traverse path;

a lubrication system to lubricate the follower (6) in the groove (7) comprising a duct (8) formed in the follower (6) and extending through the follower and to the root of the spiral track groove (7);

a lubricant supply (14) having a drip opening (13) therein of such dimension that lubricant drops will form thereat, and located adjacent the path of movement of the follower (6);

and drop strip-off means (ll) located to move with the follower adjacent the end of the duct (8) remote from the groove (7) extending towards the drip opening, to strip off lubricant drops upon passage of the follower past the drip opening.

2. (am spooling traverse apparatus according to claim I, wherein the outer end of the duct (8) is enlarged to form a catch funnel.

3. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the follower is formed with transverse cross ducts (9) open to the root of the groove and communicating with the duct (8) formed in the follower.

4. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer end of the duct (8) adjacent the drop strip-off means is enlarged;

a collar (10) surrounding the enlarged opening, the

collar supporting said strip-off means.

5. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the strip-off means is a cross bar of rectangular cross section, set on edge, and secured to the collar (10).

6. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim I, wherein the lubricant supply is a trough (14) extending parallel to the guide track means (1, la) immediately above the strip-off means.

7. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the strip-off means is a stripper bar of essentially rectangular cross section, set on edge, and located above the outer end of the lubricant supply duct, and immediately below the drip opening (13) formed in the trough to strip off drops of lubricant formed at the openings upon passage of the follower, and hence of the strip-off bar, transverse to said openings. 

1. In yarn spooling traverse apparatus having yarn guide track means (1, 1a); a yarn guide track element (2, 3) movable along the guide means; means (7'') formed with a spiral track groove (7); and a rotatable follower (6) having one end engaged in the groove (7) and the other end connected to the guide element to move the guide element, upon rotation of the means (7'') formed with the groove (7) in a reciprocating traverse path; a lubrication system to lubricate the follower (6) in the groove (7) comprising a duct (8) formed in the follower (6) and extending through the follower and to the root of the spiral track groove (7); a lubricant supply (14) having a drip opening (13) therein of such dimension that lubricant drops will form thereat, and located adjacent the path of movement of the follower (6); and drop strip-off means (11) located to move with the follower adjacent the end of the duct (8) remote from the groove (7) extending towards the drip opening, to strip off lubricant drops upon passage of the follower past the drip opening.
 2. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer end of the duct (8) is enlarged to form a catch funnel.
 3. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the follower is formed with transverse cross ducts (9) open to the root of the groove and communicating with the duct (8) formed in the follower.
 4. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outer end of the duct (8) adjacent the drop strip-off means is enlarged; a collar (10) surrounding the enlarged opening, the collar supporting said strip-off means.
 5. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the strip-off means is a cross bar of rectangular cross section, set on edge, and secured to the collar (10).
 6. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant supply is a trough (14) extending parallel to the guide track means (1, 1a) immediately above the strip-off means.
 7. Yarn spooling traverse apparatus according to claim 6, whErein the strip-off means is a stripper bar of essentially rectangular cross section, set on edge, and located above the outer end of the lubricant supply duct, and immediately below the drip opening (13) formed in the trough to strip off drops of lubricant formed at the openings upon passage of the follower, and hence of the strip-off bar, transverse to said openings. 